Shielding device



T Q67? KLM ai? G. WOLKENHAUER SHIELDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1943 2Sheets-Sluit 1 INVENTOR.

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April 10, 1945. G. woLKENHAuER SHIELDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Shut 2 FiledJan. l1, 1943 INVENT OR.

BY/w/ i@ f//s Arrone( OUCH L1" HUUI UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcESHIELDING DEVICE Gustav Wolkenhauer, Evanston, Ill.

Application January 11, 1943, Serial No. 471,971

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a shielding device to be used in conjunctionwith glazed openings and has as its principal object the provision ofmeans for accomplishing that purpose which will be simple inconstruction, economical in manufacture and highly efficient in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel sasharrangement with shielding means for modifying the intensity of lightrays which ordinarily would pass through such sash.

A further object of this invention is to provide a shielding device byprojecting a between-twoN transparent members. o prevent light raysfrompassing.therethrough.

Stillanother'bject of this invention is to provide a means forprojecting a shielding fluid between two transparent members to producea reector surface.

Other objects will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination of parts hereinafter tobe described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a vehicle embodying window structureemploying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. fragmentary perspective view of the interior of the vehicleshown in Fig. l illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail through a sash constructionforming a part of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of thewindow sash shown in Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail of another form of window sashconstruction likewise embodying my invention;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional detail, partly in elevation, illustratinga, hand-controlled injector means and an ejector system;

Fig. 6A is a sectional detail view of another form of pressure sourcefor the ejector system and is complementary to Fig. 6;

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary sectional detail view through the head jamb ofthe sash as seen from line 1-1 in Fig. 6 and illustrating an expansionchamber forming a, part of this invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view of a hydraulic controlled injectormeans which may be substituted for the hand-controlled pump shown inFig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of a screw-controlled pump which maylikewise be used in place of the pump shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a modified form of system for projecting a shielding fluidinto the sash structure by means of a suction;

Fig. 11 is another modification of the system for projecting a shieldingiiuid into the sash by gravity; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of a guide rail employed inthe modied form shown in Fig. 11.

As shown in the drawings the invention is carried out by the provisionof an air tight chamber in a window sash generally indicated at I5comprising a pair of spaced transparent members in the form of glasspanels I6 and I1 separated from each other by a spacer frame I8 whichextends around the marginal edges of the members I6 and I1. It isunderstood that the members I6 and I1 may be made of a translucentplastic material through which light or heat rays may normallypenetrate. The Window sash I5 is preferably constructed by providing aninterlocking frame I9 consisting of two interiitting strips 20 and 2Iwhich have ange portions 22 for attaching the frame work to the body 23on which the sash is mounted as well as for embracing the two spacedglass panels I6 and I1. The two strips 20 and 2| may be joined byscrews, rivets or by welding whichever is most desirable to theparticular application involved. The outer edges 24 of the glass membersI6 and I1 are sealed by tape 25 or some form of sealing compositionwhich is pressed tightly against the edges 24 t0 assure against leakagetherealong.

It is apparent that the sash I5 may be constructed by folding a singlepiece of transparent material back upon itself to provide a pair ofspaced members or that a tubular shaped plastic member may be flattenedto provide a pair of spaced sheets integrally sealed along two edgeswith its open edges being either fused into sealed condition or sealedin the manner shown.

As shown in Fig. 1 the sash may be constructed in the body of a vehiclegenerally indicated at 26 having a turret top 21 provided with glazedpanels each of which is constructed substantially in accordance with thewindow sash hereinbefore described. It is apparent, however, that thesash structure may be installed in a stationary body such as thepartition of a building or the door or body of a cabinet such as arefrigerator or the like for the purpose of deiiecting sun rays or heatrays to shield against visibility as well as to insulate the compartmentto which the sash is exposed.

The shielding meansis completed by the provision of a shielding fluid 28which is adapted `thesptcedtransparentmembersV I6`and I1. One

form of injector system is that shown in Fig. 6 wherein the entirevertical area of the chamber 29 is displayed and has a hand operatedpressurepumn3`connected to its lower end through a conduit 3|. vvpump 30is disposed to be concealed within the body 26 with the handle 32 on thepiston rod 33 extending through a guide slot 34 whereby a person withinthe cab 35 can manipulate the pump 30 to displace the fluid 28 forinjection into the chamber 29. There is a valve 36 in theconduit 3Iwhich controls the flowage from the pump to the chamber and this valvehas a control handle 31 which alsoextends into the cab so that a personseated therein can open or shut the valve 31 at will.

In the case of the application of my invention in vehicles as shown itis obvious that by reason of the transparency of the glazed panels, sunrays constantly beating down upon.the top 21- of the bBdy-wouldexposetheoccupants. of the vehicle to severe burning by the sun and that eventhough the rays of the sun were obstructed by a separate shading meanssuch as is commonly known, the heat would nevertheless radiate inwardlyfrom the glass panels and would render the interior of the vehicleexcessively hot. To overcome such objectionable characteristics of thestyle of body 26 shown my invention is particularly adapted and i may beused irrtklepumpegvili@muy the chalfnbef.when:YV ed with the il'uid ashereinb eoreexplained, becomes va-xnirrcr jivhich reileetsfheat...as.well as sun raysoiiwfwthe top 21 of the vehicle -and'h'enc'einslate'swthe interior of the vehicle from the heat rays as well as theglaring rays of light.

In using uw I have discovered that an expansion chamber is necessary inthe upper extremity of the chamber 29 and to this end an enlarged area38 is provided (as shown in Fig. '7) at that point by bevelingthe.adjacent corners of the top edges of glass panels I6 and I1 and alsoarching the surface 39 of the sealing material 25. It is to be notedthat the spacing of glass panels I6-I1 is very minute so as to support avery thin film of mercury. By reason of the thinness of the lm ofmercury it is apparent that a slight downward movement of the pistonhandle 32 will result in'a proportionately greater rise of mercury inthe chamber 29. Also by reason of the thinness of the i'llm of mercuryany expansion of that fluid by reason of heat from the sun or any othersource, will be adequately provided for by the expansion chamber 38.

A vent 40 is provided at the head of the sash I5 so that the fluid 28may freely flow into and out of the chamber 29. In the use of mercury asa iluid there is need of some means for providing a forced ejection andto this end there is provided a pipe line 4I having a three-way valve 42for shutting off the passage to the vent and for connecting the chamber29 with a compressed air reservoir 43 which in turn may be suppliedeither by a compressor 44 driven by the drive shaft of the vehicle 26 orby a carbon dioxide bulb 45 as shown in Fig. 6A having a hand-controlledvalve 46. By this means the fluid 28 is removed from the chamber 29 byfirst opening the valve 36 to permit return of the fluid to the pump 30and at the same time the three- Way valve 42 is adjusted to shut off thevent 40 and open up the pipe lines 4I to the compressed air reservoir 43thus putting a pressure on the top surface of the iluid 28 to assure itsreturn to the pump 30.

Various forms of pumps may be employed in lieu of the hand-controlledpump 39. For example a hydraulically operated pump 41 such as is shownin Fig. 8 may be used. In this form of pump there is a. piston 48operable on a guide shaft 48 and having the fluid 28 on one side thereofand a liquid 49 of any well-known type used in hydraulic systems on theother side which liquid ilows through a conduit 50 into a cylinder 5Ihaving a piston 52 operable by a treadle or any other form of operatingmeans at the disposal of the driver of the vehicle. Another form of pumpis generally indicated as 53 in Fig. 9 wherein there is shown a largecylinder 54 with a piston 54' operable by a threaded shaft 55 with ahandle 56 at the disposal of a person. In this form of pump a slightdescension of the piston 54 by a tum of the screw shaft 55 will displacea suillcient volume of fluid 28 to cause a considerable rise in the thinspace provided between the twotransparent members IS-I'I.

It is contemplated that the principles of suction may be employed indrawing the fluid 28 into the chamber 29 and this is accomplished asshown in Fig. 10 by providing a reservoir 51 to maintain the iluid 28 ata level aligned with the lowest extremity 59 of the chamber 29. 'I'heupper edge of the sash I5 is slightly modled to provide spaced ports 58which communicate with the expansion chamber 38 which in turn isconnected via a conductor 60 to a suction pump which may be in the formof a vacuum tank 6I operating on a well-known principle in conjunctionwith internal combustion engines as shown. In this suction type system avalve 62 is employed in addition to the hand-control1ed valve 36 andthis valve 62 is in the conduit leading from the sash I5 to the vacuumtank 6I and operates to control the suction line to permit ejection ofair in the chamber 29 thus reducing its internal pressure below normalair pressure. 'I'he reservoir 51 has a vent 63 whereby to maintainnormal air pressure on the fluid 28 in the reservoir and hence the iluid28 will flow up into the chamber 29 to provide a shield for the normallytransparent member. When the iluid has ascended in the chamber 29 to thedesired level the valves 62 and 36 are shut oil to lock the system, thelower valve 36 preventing descent of the iluid and the upper valve 62preventing further suction in the chamber 29.

The force of gravity is also available to the accomplishing of mypurpose and in this regard reference is made to Figs. 11 and 12 whereina movable reservoir 64 is provided and has a exible conduit 65communicating the reservoir with the chamber 29. One side rail 66 of theframe I9 has formed therein a vertical slot 61 which acts as a guide forthe movable reservoir 64. A handle 68 is attached to the reservoir 64and extends through the slot 61 so that the reservoir 64 may be manuallyraised or lowered as the case may be. A stud screw 69 extends from thereservoir 64 and through the slot 61 and has a thumb nut 'I0 threadedthereon whereby to adjustably set the reservoir at any desired levelwith respect to the sash I6. By this gravity type system the level ofthe shielding means may be controlled by a mere setting oi' the handle68 and thumb nut 10.

As hereinbefore explained my invention is es-I ijulxivu".

pecially adapted for use in vehicles such as the one shown in Fig. 1. Inthis connection I desire to point out that when mercury is used as thefiuid 28 the glazed panels have the characteristics of a mirror,reflecting images within the cab 35. In some instances the numerousimages move about to the distraction of the operator of the vehicle tosuch an extent as to confuse him in so far as trafic conditions areconcerned. To remove the effects of such images I provide a secondshielding means such as is shown in Fig. by arranging three transparentmembers in spaced relation. This is done by providing an additional paneof glass 1| and spacer means 12 between it and the inner pane of glassI6 thus forming an auxiliary chamber 13. The frame is similar to theframe i9 already explained and is identified with like referencecharacters.

Any one of the systems shown in Figs. 6 through 12 may be employed inconjunction with the auxiliary chamber 13 it being intended, however,that a uid other than mercury be used for the auxiliary chamber. Thisfluid may be either an opaque liquid or a tinted transparent liquid. Anexample of a tinted transparent liquid would be a solution of alcoholand formaldehyde with a dye substance of sufdcient density to render acolumn of such solution glare proof. The density of the tintedtransparent liquid is proportioned in accordance with the distancebetween the glass panes I6 and 1I so as to attain the desired result.

Having thus described my invention it is apparent that I have providedan improved shielding means for normally transparent window openings.That the device herein disclosed provides a means for insulating as wellas shading the occupied side of the device against heat or light raysimpinging upon the opposite side thereof. That the use of mercuryforinsulatingand` tinted liquid for minimizing reflection provides acomplete opaque closure and that by using the tinted liquid explainedabove a glare proof visor results.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of vconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

In a shielding means for glazed openings in vehicles said shieldingmeans comprising treble glass layers with each layer spaced from itsadjacent layer, means for binding the outer edges of said glass layersin spaced relation as aforesaid and providing a pair of spaced chambers,each of said chambers having a reservoir communicating therewith, areflector fluid in one of said reservoirs and a tinted transparentliquid in the other of said reservoirs communicating with the insidechamber with respect to the vehicle, and means associated with each ofsaid reservoirs for projecting their respective fluids into theirrespective chambers whereby to shield the interior of said lvehicleagainst excessive reflective qualities of said reflector fluid.

GUSTAV WOmNI-IAUER'.

